Machine for making blanks



1933- c. D. KNdwLToN 1,924,160

MACHINE FOR MAKING BLANKS Filed July 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9, 1933. c. D. KNOWLTON 1,924,160

MACHINE FOR MAKING BLANKS Filed July 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Hoague-Sprague Corporation, Lynn, Mass., a Corporation of Massachusetts Application July 21, 1928. Serial No. 294,336

25 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for making blanks from whl .h are to be produced such articles as boxes. It specially concerns the portions of these machines by which the blanks are cut 5 from material generally, though not necessarily,

in the form of an elongated strip or web.

An object of the invention is to so cut the material that smooth edges having an attractive appearance shall be formed upon thatQportion of the blank which will be, for example, at the inner end of the box. In boxes which have double end walls produced from a unitary blank, and having an inner layer of each wall furnished by meeting corner-laps and an outer layer formed by an end wing with an extension turned over the corner-laps, both faces of the material appear at the inside of the end wall. The meeting edges of the corner-laps-show one face, while the inturned edge of the end-wing extension ex- 20 poses the opposite face. To render these equally effective in form and free from objectionable roughness; I provide two opposed operating members, as rotatable rolls, between which the material passes, and knives carried by both members and having pressure-surfaces diverging from a cutting edge at a considerable angle to each other, said edge and surfaces being arranged to force the material against surfaces upon the opposite members and produce cuts having rounded edges situated at opposite sides of the material. These rounded portions may be upon one side of the blank at the adjacent edges of the corner-laps and' upon the other atthe inner edge of the endwing extension. When the corner-laps have intermeshing projections and depressions, as disclosed in the application in my name filed February 25, 1926, Serial No. 90,569 and which on June 23, 1931 became Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,811,135, I employ knives made up of a series of blades extending alternately at opposite inclinations to form a serrated cut and acting upon one side of the material to produce the edges of the laps and a straight knife cutting from the opposite side to produce the edge of the end-wing extension. Both of said knives are formed and operate as above indicated. Since, in repeated use, the opposite members against which the knives cut become worn, and there must be adjustment of the spacing, it is important that the field over which each knife acts shall remain the same, to avoid uneven cutting action. Therefore, I have means arranged to adjust relatively each knife and the co-operating surface of the opposite roll or member. The rolls being preferably connected by gearing to efiect rotation of one from the other, and as backlash in this gearing would disturb the adjustments just mentioned, I preferably include in the machine means to take up this backlash or independent movement between the gears in either direction.

A further object of the invention is to effectively separate the scrap which may result as an incident to the production of the end formation between the blanks, and so dispose of it that it cannot interfere with the operation of the machine. To this end, there is, in my improved apparatus, combined with means for advancing a web of materialfrom which the blanks are to be formed,

cutting means which leaves the scrap partly severed from the material at one edge, together with novel means for grasping the scrap and, while it is still connected to the material, drawing it away from said material. In this way, the waste material is detached at a predetermined point and ejected from the machine in a definite direction clear of the path of the web and of operating elements which might become clogged by it. The connection of the scrap by the partial cut is preferably at the rear edge to the web, while the blank which is being formed in front of the scrap is completely severed and. carried away by means which accelerate its advance, leaving said scrap positioned by the web free to be disposed of advantageously. I have herein shown the detaching and directing means as consisting of a pair of rotatable rolls, one having a material-engaging projection, and the other a portion (30-. operating with the projection and yieldable circumferentially of the roll. As in connection with 0 the cutting means, the adjustment of the angular relation between the operating members furnished by the projection and the co-operating roll and the maintenance of the gearing free from backlash is of utility, and means is provided for effecting this. I

One of the several possible embodiments of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the portion of a blank-making machine to which my improvements are applied;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough;

Fig. 3 shows in perspective a portion of one of 5 the serrated knives;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the bearings at one end of the cutting rolls;

Fig. 5 illustrates in perspective the action of the scrap-detaching rolls;

giving a finished surface.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail taken outside one extremity of. said rolls;

Fig. 7 illustrates in separated perspectives the yieldable scrap-engaging sleeve and that portion of the lower detaching roll with which it directly co-operates;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the interior of one end of a box formed from a blank made upon my improved machine; and

Fig. 9 is a section on the line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

The illustrated form of the invention is arranged to produce blanks from which boxes are to be made, these blanks and boxes being as disclosed in the previously mentioned patent. As

shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the box A formed from a blank B of pasteboard or the like, such as appears in Fig. 5, has a bottom-portion a, side wings I), b, and at each extremity, an end formation including corner-laps c, c projecting from the side walls and provided with intermeshing serrations and an outer end wing cthaving an extension e turned in over the upper edges of the cornerlaps. The board from which the blank is made may be lined upon one or both sides with paper, Considering the edges of the material which are exposed within the box, those of the serrated portions of the corner-laps come at the lower side of the blank, as viewed in Fig. 5, while the edge of the end-wing extension which can be seen within the'box is at the opposite or upper side of,the blank. Itis desired to impart to all these exposed edges a smooth finish, both because an irregular edge is conspicuous and unsightly; and because its roughness may injure the contents of thebox. This is particularly true of the joint between the cornerlaps, Where, if the opposite serrations have closely placed roughedges, there will be created by the shadow between them a conspicuous dark line, calling attention to the joint. By the apparatus illustrated as embodying this invention, now to be described, I avoid this defect.

At 10, 10 appear opposite side walls, upon which are journaled successive pairs of rolls, those of each pair being arranged one above the other. These include web-feeding rolls 12, 14, cutting rolls 16, 18, scrap-ejecting rolls 20, 22, and blankfeeding rolls 23, 23. Through these rolls is directed a web of box-material W, drawn from a reel and subjected to the necessary lining, creasing and slotting mechanisms bearing no direct relation to the present invention and therefore not being illustrated. The bed-roll 12 of the first pair of feeding rolls is driven through gearing 24 from a power-shaft 26. The upper pressure-roll 14 may have its bearings in arms 28 pivoted upon the frame and adjustable by screws '30 to vary'the space between the rolls.

The feed-rolls 12, 14 advance the web W between the cutting rolls. Of these, thelower roll 16 is rotated by a chain of gearing including a pinion 32 fast upon the journal of the feed-r011,

12, an idler 34 rotatable upon the frame, and a gear 36. The last-mentioned gear is secured by slot-and-screw connections 38 to a collar 40 (Fig. 4) fixed to the journal of the roll-16. The rolls 16 and 18 are compelled to turn together by a gear 42 secured to the journal of the roll 18 and meshing with the gear 36. Carried upon the outer side of the gear 42 is a gear-section 44 furnished by an annulus adjustably clamped in place by screws 46. The purpose of the adjustable mounting of the gear 36 and gear-section 44 will appear later. Extending along the central portion of the roll 18, and seated in a slot'parallel to the axis, is a cutting edge 52.

straight knife 48, which divides the successive blanks between the end-wing extensions c. This knife has oppositely inclined faces 50, converging at a not very acute angle and meeting at a The knife operates against a block 54 fixed in a groove extending longitudinally of the periphery of the roll 16. The proximity of the cutting edge of the knife to the block may .be adjusted by screws 56 threaded into the roll 18 and contacting at their ends with'the inner edge of the knife, and this adjustment may be maintained by clamping screws 58 acting upon the knife. Mounted upon the roll 16, opposite to that having the knife 48, are four serrated knives 60 arranged in twopairs. These pairs are upon the outer sections of the roll at opposite sides of the block 54 with the knives of each pair symmetrically placed with respect thereto. They serve to sever from adjacent blanks the serrated ends of the corner-laps c at both sides of the corresponding end wing. Each knife, as shown, is made up of a series of blades 62 (Fig. 3) secured in the proper angular relation between re taining abutments 64. These abutments for each complete knife project from a segment 66 adjustably clamped upon the surface of the roll 16 by an overhanging plate 68 and screw-and-slot connections 70. The knives 60 out against portions 72, '72 of the roll 18. The correct cutting relation between the knives 60 and the opposed surfaces 72, with respect to approach,.may be obtained by adjusting screws 74 threaded through the upper part of the frame and contacting with the bearings of the roll 18. Springs76 hold the bearings yieldably in engagement with the screws. The screws 56 provide for independent adjustment of the knife 48, so that correct relation between all the knives and the opposite abutment-surfaces may be obtained. The cutting edges of the knives 60 preferably have the same formation as the knife 48. The eifect of all these knives in severing the blank-material is to force back and round the cut edges away from theline of division, as is indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, producing finished surfaces having no irregularities to mar the box-contents, and which so diffuse the reflected light that no distinct dark lines are created at the meeting of the serrations. As the cuts at the meeting edges of the corner-laps and at the inturned edge of the endwing-extension are made from opposite sides of the material by the oppositely placed knives 48 and 60, respectively, when the blank is formed into a box, these finished portions will be exposed and the opposite sharp ragged edges concealed by being secured to adjacent elements. A particularly effective edge is obtained when the boxmaterial is lined on both sides, the cover-paper accentuating the smoothness of the rounded surfaces upon both thecorner-laps and end-wing extension,

. In the continued use of such cutting apparatus as has just been described, depressions are gradually worn in the'abutment members 54 and '72 opposite the knives, making it necessary to adjust so the effect of the adjustment shall be uniform throughout the length of said edges.

sired relation may be maintained by the angular I The deadjustment between the knives and opposed surfaces circumferentially of the rolls 16 and 18 by means which has already been described. By

loosening the screws 38, the rolls 16 may be turned .the knife 48 and again secured. Any disturbance which this creates in the relation between the knives and the roll-portions '72, or any other departure of these from registration, may be corrected by adjustment of the knives 60, their clamping means 68 and 70 allowing this.

' Were there backlash in the gearing 36, 42, the resulting circumferential play between the rolls 16 and 18 might destroy the correct registration between the knives 48 and 60 and the co-operating surfaces, attained as just outlined. To prevent this, any backlash present in the gearing or introduced by Wear, may be taken up by the angular adjustment of the gear-section 44 upon the gear 42. With the screws 46 loosened, the section 44 is turned independently of the gear 42 until the teeth of the two together give a width suificient to occupy the spaces between the teeth of the gear 36 without play. This adjustment is in such a direction as to throw the driving stress wholly on the teeth of the wider section 42. The section 44 having been secured in its adjusted position, the rolls will rotate without disturbance of the relation which has been established between the knives and the abutmentsurfaces.

In the blank which has been described, the corner-laps are shorter than the end wings. There will consequently be produced between each pair of corner-laps upon adjacent blanks a piece of waste material s (Fig. 5), which must be separated from both the leading blank, which is being detached from the web, and the succeeding blank I accomplish this in a way which avoids all disturbance of both these blanks, and also carries the scrap away from the operating elements of the machine. Considering one only of the pieces of scrap, since the action of the other at the opposite side of the end wing is the same, this, at its inner edge, has been fully separated from the end wings of the adjacent blanks by a slot w made during a previous stage of blank-formation. When the pair of knives 60, 60 divide the ends of the corner-laps from the scrap, that which acts first is so set that it severs the blank completely from the scrap at 2:. The following knife, operating at 11, cuts but partly through the material, leaving the piece s supported by the corner-lap of the succeeding blank-section. This corner-lap, in the advance of the web, is thrust between the rolls-20 and 22. The rolls are shown as adjustably mounted, to determine the approach of their peripheries, in

the same manner as are the rolls 16 and 18. They are rotated from the gear 36.through an idle This end co-operates with an abutment-sleeve 88 free to turn upon the journal of the roll 20.

Adjacent to the sleeve 88 is a portion of the roll fast upon the journal and having at one side a radial slot 90, into which projects a pin 92 upon 'that, as the leading blank is advanced by the the end of the sleeve, thus limiting the extent of rotation of the sleeve upon the roll. A tensionspring 94 extends between pins on the roll and sleeve and holds the latter normally at its extreme of travel opposite to the direction in which its periphery is moving. In its revolution, the projection 86 travels through a depression 96 in the periphery of the sleeve 88. The engaging end of the projection is farther from the axis of the roll 22 than is the opposed surface of the sleeve from the axis of the companion roll. The velocity of the toothed engaging surface is therefore greater than is the co-operating abutmentsurface. The rolls are so timed in their rotation 0 cutting pair 16, 18 to the pair 20, 22, it is seized 9 by cylindrical portions of the latter which extend from the projection 86 and depression 96. When the scrap 3 reaches the rolls 20, 22, this is engaged between the projection and depression. At this time, the forward extremity of the leading blank comes under the influence of the rolls 23, 23, which are rotated from the gear 82, through gearing 98, more rapidly than are the rolls 20, 22. As the engaged wing-portion of 100 the blank is freedfrom the central cylindrical section of the rolls 20, 22, the rolls 23, 23 become effective. The last-mentioned pair, as a result of their greater speed, draws the completed blank away from the following end of the web, opening a space between them. As the projection 86 is traveling faster than the web, it pulls the scrap s from the next blank at the partlysevered line y, which has offered it temporary support. Thus entirely freed from the adjacent blank-material, the scrap, pressed by the projection against the more slowly moving surface of the depression 96, causes the sleeve 88 to rotate about the journal of the roll 20 against the tension of the spring 94 until the pin 92 is stopped by contact with the forward wall of the recess 90. This rotation of the sleeve directs the scrap downwardly, so, when the projection 86 leaves it, it falls out of the path of the succeeding blank which is being severed by the rolls 16, 18. The location of the rolls 20, 22 is such that the separated scrap is clear of elements of the machine,

and it may be received by a container for con- -of the roll 20 and be bent back, instead of riding horizontally over the top. To prevent this, the corner 100, where the rear end wall of the depression 96 joins the cylindrical portion of the sleeve 88, is so related to the projection 86 that, just as the projection detaches the scrap, the cornen rises into contact with 'the following corner-lap, supporting this in a horizontal position'and guiding it directly into the bite of the rolls 20, 22. The exact angular relation desired may be obtained by adjustment of the gear 82 through its slotted connection, and maintained against disturbance by backlash by the sectional-gear 84.

Having described my invention, what I claim 5 as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

1. In a machine for making blanks, two opposed members between which blank-material passes, and knives carried by both members and having 150 rial of both blanks.

pressure-surfaces diverging from a cutting edge at a considerable angle to each other, said edge and surface being arranged to produce cuts having rounded edges situated at opposite sides of the material, there being surfaces upon the members against which the material is forced by the knives to sever it and round the edges.

2. In a machine for making blanks, a straight knife arranged to sever material from one side, and a knife made up of a series of blades extending alternately at opposite inclinations to form a serrated cut and arranged to sever the material from the opposite side, each of said knives having oppositely inclined faces converging to a cutting edge at a considerable angle to each other.

3. In a machine for making box-blanks, opposite rotatable rolls between which box-material passes, a straight knife carried by one roll, and serrated knives spaced from each other upon the companion roll, each knife operating only upon the adjacent ends of the blanks and being arranged to produce cuts with rounded edges .upon each of the severed portions.

4. In a machine for making box-blanks having end wings and corner-laps, a pair of co-operating rolls, one of said rolls being provided with a knife arranged to divide the end wings of adjacent blanks, and the other roll having two pairs of serrated knives arranged to form the ends of the corner-laps of said blanks, each knife being arranged to produce rounded edges upon 5. In a machine for making blanks, two opposed rotatable rolls, gearing connecting the rolls, a knife carried by each run and cutting against a surface upon the opposite roll, and means ar ranged to adjust one of the knives circumferentially along the surface of its roll.

6. In a machine for making blanks, opposite rotatable rolls, gearing connecting the rolls, a knife carried by each roll and cutting against a surface upon the opposite roll, means arranged to adjust the angular relation of one of the gears about its roll, and means arranged to adjust a .knife circumferentially along the surface of its roll.

'7. In a machine for making blanks, opposite rotatable rolls, gearing connecting the rolls, a knife carried by each roll and cutting against a surface upon the opposite roll, securing means for the gear of one roll arranged to allow the angular relation between the rolls to be varied, and clamping means for a knife of one of the rolls arranged to. allow its adjustment circumferentially along the surface of said roll.

8. In a machine for making box-blanks, opposite rotatable rolls, a straight knife secured to one roll substantially parallel to its axis, a gear having slots, screws passing through the slots and securing the gear to turn with the other roll, a segment adjustably clamped to said other roll, and a serrated knife fixed to the segment, each knife cutting against the companion roll.

9. In a machine for making blanks, means for advancing a. web of blank-material, means for cutting the web to produce successive blanks with intermediate pieces of scrap partly severed from the material at one edge, and means for grasping the scrap and while it is still connected to the material drawing it away from said material and simultaneously directing it out of the path of said material.

10. In a machine for making blanks, means for advancing a web of blank-material, means for cutting the web to produce successive blanks with the mateintermediate pieces of scrap whblly severed from the blank formed by the cut and partly severed from the succeeding material, rotatable means for,

separating the scrap from the blank, and means rotatable independently of the separating means for detaching the scrap from the material.

11. In a machine for making blanks, means for advancing a web of blank-material, means for cutting the web to produce successive blanks with intermediate pieces of scrap partly severed from.

the blank formed by the cut and partly severed from the succeeding material, feeding means for separating the scrap from the blank, and means situated between the cutting and feeding means for grasping the scrap at opposite sides and drawing it away from the web.

13. In" a machine for making box-blanks, means for advancing a web of box-material, cutting mechanism to which the material is fed, and a pair of rotatable rolls to which the cutting mechanism delivers, one of said rolls having a material-engaging projection and the opposite roll having a portion co-operating with the projection and being yieldable circumferentially of the roll.

14. In a machine for making box-blanks,

means for advancing a web of box-material, cutl ting mechanism to which the material is fed, and a pair of rotatable rolls to which the cutting mechanism delivers, one of said rolls having a material-engaging projection and the opposite roll having a portion co-operating with the projection 'and being yieldable circumferentially of the roll, the engaging end of the projection traveling at a more rapid rate than the co-operating surface of the opposite roll. I

' 15. In a machine for making box-blanks, means for advancing a web of box-material, cutting mechanism to which material is fed, a pair of driven rolls in advance of the cutting mechanism, a material-engaging projection carried by one of the rolls, a portion arranged to turn about the axis of the other roll and co-operating with the projection, and a spring connecting said por tion and its roll. g

16. In a machine for making box-blanks, means for advancing a web of box-material, cutting mechanism to which material is fed, a pair of driven rolls in advance of the cutting mecha nism, a material-engaging projection carried by one of the rolls, a. portion arranged to turn about the axis of the other roll and co-operating 'with the projection, and a spring connecting said portion and its roll, the engaging end of the projectionbeing further removed from its axis of revolution than is the co-operating surface of the movable portion.

17. In a machine for making blanks, means for advancing a web of blank-material, means for cutting the web to produce successive blanks with the second member under the influence of the projection.

18. In a machine for making blanks,means for advancing a web of blank-material, means for cutting the web to produce successive blanks with intermediate pieces of scrap, a rotatable member provided with a scrap-engaging projection, a second rotatable member situated at the opposite side of the materialfrom the first member, a scrap-engaging sleeve arranged to turn upon the second member under the influence of the projection, and a spring connecting the sleeve and its supporting member and arranged to urge said sleeve in a direction opposite to that of its rotation.

19. In a machine for making blanks, means for advancing a web of blank-material, means for cutting the web to produce successive blanks with intermediate pieces of scrap, a rotatable member provided with a scrap-engaging projection, a second rotatable member situated at the oppositeside of the material from the first member, and a scrap-engaging sleeve arranged to turn upon the second member under the influence of the projection and having a depression to receive the projection.

20. In a machine for making blanks, means for advancing a web of blank-material, means for cutting the web to produce successive blanks with intermediate pieces of scrap, a rotatable member provided with a scrap-engaging projection, a second rotatable member situated at the opposite side of the material from the first member, and a scrap-engaging sleeve arranged to turn upon roll, a serrated knife secured to the other roll and extending longitudinally thereof, each roll having a normally smooth abutment-surface against which the knife of the opposite roll cuts, and

means arranged to maintain both knives in registration with lines upon the abutment-surfaces normally opposed to their cutting edges.-

In a machine for making blanks, opposite rotatable rolls, a straight knife secured to one roll, a serrated knife secured to the other roll and extending longitudinally thereof, each roll having a normally smooth abutment-surface against which the knife of the opposite roll cuts, and means arranged to adjust both knives circumferentially of the axes of the rolls.

28. In a machine for making blanks, opposite rotatable rolls, a straight knife secured to one roll, a serrated knife secured to the other roll and extending longitudinally thereof, each roll having a normally smooth abutment-surface against which the knife of the opposite roll cuts, means arranged to adjust both knives circumferentially of the axes of the rolls, gearing connecting the rolls, and means arranged to take up independent movement between the gears in either direction.

24. In a machine for making box-blanks, means for advancing a web of box-material, cutting mechanism to which the material is fed, a

pair of rotatable rolls to which the cutting mechanism'delivers, one. of said rolls having a material-engaging projection and the opposite roll having a portion co-operating with the projection and being yieldable circumferentially of the roll, and means arranged to vary the angular relation between the rolls. 7

25. In a machine for -making box-blanks, means for advancing a'web of box-material, cutting mechanism to which the material is fed, a pair of rotatable rolls to which the cutting mechanism delivers, one of said rolls having a ma terial-engaging projection and the opposite roll having a portion co-operating with the projection and being yieldable circumferentially of the roll, gearing connecting the rolls, and means arranged to take up independent movement between the gears in either direction.

CUTLER D. KNOWL'I'ON. 

